The ‘Koummya‘ dagger is a traditional curved dagger worn by the Berber and Arabic people from Morocco. The ‘Koummya‘ is worn on the waist with a cord attatched to the shoulder. They vary in quality, but are mostly decorated with silver or brass and the hilts are often made of rhinoceros-horn or wood. Many of them are made in the region of Marakesh and show typical floral chiseled or engraved motifs on the silverwork. This example:
Of wonderful quality with fine quality silver fittings and scabbard. The hilt-type is referred to as the ‘queue de paon‘ which is French for ‘peacock tail‘. One of the forms seen on traditional ‘Koummya‘ daggers. The blade is well forged and balanced and features a fullered forte and curved tip with double edge. The blade is signed by the blade-smith on the forte with an unknown mark. The scabbard is entirely decorated with chiseled motifs and has two suspension rings attached near the scabbard mouth. The scabbard is hallmarked on the tip, on both suspension rings and near the scabbard throat. The hilt is made of fine patinated wood with an aesthetically pleasing grain. The pommel is covered in silver and peened to the tang of the blade. The center of the hilt has a ferrule which is partially brass and partially silver, showing a fine traditional decoration.
Condition: Excellent, a good old authentic example with high quality blade and fittings. movement on the wooden slab inside the scabbard.